Razer Phone is the smartphone built by gamers for gaming fans

Razer embraces gamers with top performance

The Razer Phone smartphone is now on the market as an Android device with hopes of taking mobile entertainment to the next level.

Developed by a company best known for their high-performance gaming hardware with over 35 million users, their first smartphone is designed with gamers in mind with a phenomenal display, cinematic audio and long battery life.

The new Razer smartphone will have to stack up against some of the current heavyweights in the market, such as the latest iPhone and Samsung devices.

According to the company, the Razer will measure up with a 120Hz UltraMotion display, which is no slouch in the gaming sector. Without getting too technical, this feature is based on the Qualcomm QuickChange 4+ technology and the improvement in the refresh rate is impressive on the 5.72-inch display.

Razer packed with Dolby Atmos audio technology

For audio, the Razer is packed with Dolby Atmos technology, which has been labeled as the future of surround sound. It has roots in Hollywood on film sets starting around 2012, made its way into home audio equipment and now into the Razer smartphone. The Razer is promising a cinematic audio experience from the two front speakers with dual amplifiers.

One odd quirk with the Razer is the lack of a traditional headphone port. But the Razer solved this with a USB-C to 3.5mm audio adapter, and according to the company, guarantees audiophile-quality sound using your regular headphones with the aid of certified THX technology, along with 24-bit DAC in the audio adapter. The Razer is serious about the audio capability, as Dolby and THX are two well-known powerhouses the audio industry.

Under the hood, you’ll find the latest Qualcomm Technologies Inc. Snapdragon 835 Mobile Platform, a 10-nanometer chip which also does duty in other flagship smartphones and Windows 10 “Always Connected” devices. To assist this processing power, there are eight gigabytes of RAM on board, which tops the rumored 3GB in the iPhone 10 and the 4GB in Samsung Galaxy S8.

As for all-day power, the Razer has a large 4,000 mAh battery and lays claim to having one of the largest in today’s smartphones and a rapid charging feature using Qualcomm’s “Quick Change 4+” technology. According to Qualcomm, a device can go from empty to 50 percent charge in just 15 minutes.

In the camera department, 12 megapixels is not too shabby for the Razer, especially with dual rear lens and dual-tone flash. There are lots of other smartphones that can’t match those specifications for picture taking and seamless zooming when needed.

Power users will love the Razer experience

The Razer is optimized for power users and the user experience can be enhanced further with the popular “Nova Launcher Prime,” developed by TeslaCoil Software, and running alongside Android 7 Nougat, the latest operating system for Android devices. But I hear Android 8 Oreo is just around the corner and according to company officials, the Razer will receive the Oreo upgrade in the spring of 2018.

The launcher prime software, available in the Google Play store, functions as a license to obtain the free Nova Launcher App to open the door for further updates and customization. Users can replace the home screen and modify icon themes, colors, layouts and animations.

To take advantage of the high-end audio features and processing power, the Razer company would like to invite users to watch movies on the Quad HD 5.72 display, listen to “expertly-tuned” audio and play games without concerns of running out of battery power.

“It’s common knowledge that I’m obsessed with my smartphones, I play a ton of games on them, and they’re my go-to for streaming content,” said Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “We have wanted to make a phone with gaming-level tech for years, and the Razer Phone delivers in every way we imagined.”

Even If you’re not a hardcore gamer, you’ll probably find something to like about the Razer as a smartphone. The specifications are top-notch, with an attractive aluminum body and front-facing speakers. Just keep in mind this a first-try in the smartphone area for the Razer company and the best might be yet to come.

If you’re ready to shop, set aside around $700 and visit Razer's website and via this website on Amazon.

Amazon Echo Show rolls out more visuals, Drop-in video calling

The new Echo Show is a real showstopper

The new Amazon Echo Show was left under the Christmas tree and we couldn’t wait until Christmas morning. This is one fun device and is worth tearing into the box early.

The Echo Show is about as technologically advanced as you can get and does just about everything, plus more things you’ll discover while exploring the many features.

The twist with the Echo Show is that it shows you what’s happening with visuals along with the voice notifications. The previous Echo devices fall short of the Echo Show’s features. Let’s take a closer look at the unique engineering of the Amazon’s latest wonder.

Echo Show: What’s under the hood

The Echo Show is square-shaped at 7.4 inches by 7.4 inches, with a seven-inch touchscreen color display. It tips the scales at around 41 ounces. There is a five-megapixel camera tucked away in the top bezel and blends in so well you might not notice it.

On the top of the housing, you’ll find three simple buttons -- a volume up, volume down, and a combination Mics/Camera/On/Off button.Down low, near the base, there is simply a power port. And that’s it for buttons and ports.

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Learn more about the stylish Echo Show

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The magic starts with what’s lurking behind the mesh screen covering about a third of the front fascia which is where you’ll find two speakers powered by Dolby technology. I must say they sound really good.

If you look really close around the buttons on top, you’ll see a perforated ring surrounding the buttons that hides with eight microphones with beam-forming and noise cancellation technology to pick up your voice from across the room. I can vouch that this does work from the couch, my hangout, to the table across the room, where the Echo Show hangs out.

If I had to describe it, in a nutshell, it’s an inverted-wedge-shaped powerful voice-commands computer with no keyboard or mouse that always on and ready for your input.

Echo Show ready for action out of the box

Getting the Echo Show up and running is simple and easy. Just take it out of the box, plug it and twiddle only “one thumb” while it connects to the Internet. Alexa will be waiting.

If you’re the least bit familiar with the other Echo devices, such as the 1st and 2nd generation devices, and the newer Dot, Plus and Spot devices, you’ll be ahead of the game in operating the Echo Show. A lot of the things to try are similar, but the Echo Show has lots of new features and tricks to show off.

Video and visuals define the Echo Show

Just about every feature of the old devices is now visual on the Echo Show, such as the calendar, lists, songs, weather forecasts and the list goes on and on. Book covers are shown while reading Audible audiobooks content, as well as an album or CD artwork for music. Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio visuals - they’re all there in full color. If you’re like me and can’t remember the words to songs, the lyrics are scrolling on the display as the songs play on the Echo Show.

Just like some of the earlier Echo devices, the Echo Show continues interfacing or syncing with compatible devices, such as room monitors, lights, thermostats, Philips Hue, Sony and other smart home devices. But since the Echo Show has a display, we can now add baby monitors and security cameras, such as the Amazon Cloud Cam. Pairing with Amazon Fire TV allows access to Amazon Video on the Echo’s seven-inch display.

Echo Show redefines “can you hear (and see) me now”

Perhaps the biggest unique feature of the Echo Show is the capability to make video calls from one Echo Show to another Echo Show, using the somewhat controversial Drop-in feature. You can also just call another Echo in the household and use them as an intercom between rooms.

Or you can use the Alex app on your mobile phone to make a Drop-in call to your own Echo Show at home and activate the camera for a makeshift security check from a remote location. Because of privacy concerns, you’ll want to pay special attention to the Drop-in feature and who actually has Drop-in access in your contacts list. The Drop-in feature is very powerful and you’ll want to have a good understanding of how it works.

The Drop-in feature would be great for checking on a sick friend or relative, seniors living alone, children or even the Pets, where you could tell Fido to get off the couch during the day. Yes, you can speak through a mobile phone remotely to the Echo Show, even if no one answers the call.

Other fun stuff includes telling Alexa to “take a selfie” with the camera and asking her to “find free Amazon prime movies,” which can be played on the seven-inch display.

Echo Show’s constant display of information draws attention

When idle, the display has three rotating screens, which include the current time and temperature, another with the tomorrow appointment from your calendar and the third could be a video trailer, maybe from Netflix, a news headline from The Washington Post or general trivia from other sources. When passing by the Echo Show, you'll have to pause a moment to see what you can learn from the constantly-changing display screen.

The lack of YouTube content for the Echo Show has been an on and off feature as Google and Amazon go back and forth rights and privileges. Lots of folks are hoping Amazon can reach an agreement and have access to the wealth of content available on YouTube. If you ask Alexa to search for YouTube content, she has an answer for you.

"YouTube is not available," says Alexa in a stern voice. "Here is what I found." The latter refers to similar content available from other sources, such as Vimeo and Dailymotion, which also are video-sharing websites.

The Amazon Echo Show is available at you-know-where for around $150 and also can be found at some Best Buy brick-and-mortar stores. I purchased the last one on the shelf at my local Best Buy.

Just like my conclusion in the Drone article, I didn’t know I needed an Echo Show until I got one. I thought the tall guys, the 1st Generation, and 2nd Generation Echo devices met my needs. But the Echo Show is such an impressive technological device, I need another one. It looks like I'm hooked again.

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Echo Spot: A stylish and compact Echo with a color screen

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Propel Dart 1.0 drone small in size, large in flying performance

Propel Dart 1.0 drone is perfect for beginners

My first drone, the Propel Dart 1.0, found its way into the shopping cart because it was on sale. I never thought I would want a Drone or even like flying a Drone, or let's say “trying to fly” a drone.

The Propel Dart 1.0, my first drone, is about the size of a pack of cigarettes, plus four rotor blades. The technical specs say it’s a 2.4 GHz indoor/outdoor high-performance flying machine with a 200-foot operational range, supported by a 2.4G radio remote controller. Just like its larger cousins, such as a Boeing 747, it has LED directional white lights the front and red on the back.

The Propel company has been in the drone business in the United States since 2006 and recently launched a line of Disney “Star Wars battle drones” with reverse propulsion, flight simulation, an iOS app and gaming for up to 12 players.

For the Dart, I choose the bright red color off the shelves, as I thought it would be easier to see or find in the bushes or a field if my flight pattern went haywire. Or could easily be spotted in the top of a tree, for which I hear stories of this being the final resting place for a lot of spanking-brand-new drones. It also comes in silver and blue.

Propel drone includes spare rotor blades, removable controller grips

In the box, protected by industrial-strength plastic packing, I found the Dart 1.0, a Wireless Controller, a USB charging cord, some spare parts and an intimidating instruction booklet for such a small device. Later on, I would appreciate having the spare rotor blades.

Once out of the box, make sure the Dart is charged and ready for action. The drone unit uses a USB connector that “must” be plugged into a computer, which I find odd since it’s not actually syncing to the computer. A red LED light on the USB plug will indicate charging is complete, which could range from 30 to 45 minutes for five to seven minutes of flying time. The controller requires two AAA batteries.

The controller, or remote, is feature laden for such a small device, with controls for adjusting forward and backward trim, as well as banking and the yaw. With the proper adjustments, the Dart is supposed to hover steadily in mid-air with no drifting left or right, forward or backward. There is also a six-axis gyro tucked away inside the device to assist with level hovering and flight.

Dart 1.0 start/land buttons help drone with smooth takeoff and landings

For beginner drone pilots, like myself, I also appreciated a dedicated Start and Landing button to safely get off the ground and back down again without any mishaps. The Dart has four modes - Training, Slow, Medium and High. I’ll be in (T) Training mode for a while, which allows you to learn to fly at a slow speed. After familiarizing myself with the controls, it’s time to fly.

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Buy Now: Propel Dart 1.0

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This drone has a three-channel mode for beginners and a four-channel mode for advanced flying. It’s helpful to know the default setting for the Dart is in four-channel mode and you might consider stepping down a notch to novice before taking off.

You’ll need to sync the Dart and Controller before taking off into the wild blue yonder. Just place the drone on a flat surface and activate the throttle lever. The LED lights should turn on, clearing you for takeoff.

Of course, the directions say you should be in a wide open space, with at least a 200-foot radius. I’ll have to settle for my driveway.

Thanks to the automatic take-off button, I’m off the pavement and in the air in a breeze. With a careful press of the direction lever, I move toward a chain link fence in a controlled manner. Then back to the airport, or my take-off spot on the driveway, followed by pressing the automatic landing button, and the Dart landing softly with everything intact. The rotors automatically shut off after landing. After you build your flying skills and confidence, you can exit training mode, manually start the rotor blades to spinning and lift off using the throttle lever. The challenge in manual mode will be to return at some point and land safely.

Propel Dart programmed for automatic stunt rolls

The Dart is capable of doing 360-degree aerial rolls, with a dedicated Stunt Roll Button waiting to be pressed once you feel like an expert. It’ll require some quick maneuvering of the control stick to accomplish these tricks.

Although the Dart is considered a toy and can be purchased for around $40, it has remarkable engineering and still falls under the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) compliance rules Part 15 for a Class B digital device. If the weight was above 0.55 pounds, it would need to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for small unmanned aircraft.

I’m looking forward to purchasing a larger drone at some point with the integrated camera and more features. Or maybe I’ll put a couple of mid-range devices in the Amazon basket to hone my piloting skills a little more before going all out with a DJI, GoPro, UDI, Hubsan, or Yuneec. At some point, I hope to be ready for a Cadillac of drones.

At any rate, I didn’t know I would like a drone, but now I need another one. I’m hooked.

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DJI Phantom 3 Standard Quadcopter Drone with 2.7K HD Video Camera

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Laptop Lift 90 helps to get organized, maximize desk space

Laptop Lift 90 optimizes workspace

The Laptop Lift 90 is a combination riser and space-saver while also improving laptop function and the overall look of your workspace.

This laptop organizer, introduced by newPCgadgets, a company with a mission to design unique computer products and accessories for Apple and PC computers, has claims of offering the only laptop accessory in the market with these uniques features.

When using the Laptop 90 as a riser, it raises the laptop about one inch for increased ventilation, while holding it upright when used as a stand for storage and to maximize desk space.

Vibrant colors of Laptop Lift 90 improves look of desk

According to their president Michael Schriner, "With our new Laptop Lift 90° we have created a new way to organize the desktop, improve laptop function and save space. We have also enhanced the look of the workspace by offering vibrant colors that really stand out."

Laptop Lift 90 designed for popular computers

The Laptop Lift 90° is designed for both home and office and is constructed of glossy acrylic, with non-slip neoprene pads. It is designed to hold popular laptops, such as the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Surface Book, Dell Latitude, Lenovo, HP Pavilion and other brands.

If you’re shopping for Christmas, the Laptop Lift 90 comes in pink, blue, white and black, and is available for around a special introductory price of around $20 on the company’s website.

Executive Office Solutions Portable Adjustable Aluminum Laptop Desk/Stand/Table Vented w/CPU Fans Mouse Pad Side Mount-Notebook-Macbook-Light Weight Ergonomic TV Bed Lap Tray Stand Up/Sitting-Black